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Loaded in the dog wagon, and down the road we go - Scrapper Blackwell, Penal Farm Blues

Author Topic: Great Solo Harmonica Performances  (Read 7567 times)

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Offline Johnm

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2016, 06:56:16 AM »
Hi Bruce,
Did Billy Grammar's hit song have a verse that began, "Papa writes to Johnny, but Johnny can't come home"?  I remember hearing that when I was a kid and it was really catchy.
All best,
Johnm

Offline bnemerov

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2016, 07:07:30 AM »
yep, john, that's the one.
also has verse: "High sheriff and police ridin' after me." Here's Billy G:


best,
bruce

Offline Lignite

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2016, 07:49:55 AM »
I think the folk singer Paul Clayton gets credit for writing the hit version of Gotta Travel On.

Offline Lastfirstface

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #18 on: January 17, 2016, 08:14:07 AM »
The "Police and High Sheriff" melody and lyrics show up elsewhere, like the old time tune "Big Ball In Memphis" as recorded by the Georgia Yellow Hammers:



Sorry to further divert the thread.

Offline Lignite

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #19 on: January 17, 2016, 08:21:36 AM »
Yeah, this one by the Aiken County String Band also;


Offline Johnm

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #20 on: January 18, 2016, 02:52:31 PM »
Hi all,
Roger Matthews was most often recorded in a duo with guitarist Booker T. Sapps, but here he plays solo.  In the "John Henry" thread, at http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=4256.msg87954#msg87954 , there is a version by Roger Matthews and Booker T. Sapp of that song in which Roger Matthews' rhythm playing behind the instrumental tag at the end of each verse is other-worldly--I've never heard anything like it.



George "Bullet" Williams is not doing his own singing here, does anyone know who the singer is?  In the singer's spoken exhortations, he pronounces "touch" "tetch".  Williams does some of the scariest vocalizing with his harp here:

 

Touch me light, pretty mama, this may be your last
Hey, hey, this may be your last
Touch me light, pretty mama, this may be your last (Spoken: Touch 'em, kid, touch 'em!)

Hey, went to the Nation, from there to the territo'
Couldn't find, my good gal, honey, nowhere I go (Spoken: Touch 'em again!)

Woke up this morning, woke the day before
Woke up this morning with the same thing on my mind (Spoken: Touch 'em now!)

I b'lieve to my soul, mama, got to leave your town
I ain't got no pretty mama, talk baby talk to me (Spoken: Touch 'em, boy, touch 'em!)

Ahh, ahh, talk baby talk to me
Ain't got no pretty mama, talk baby talk to me

I went to the Nation, from there to the territo'
I couldn't find my good gal, honey, nowhere I go (Spoken: Touch 'em, touch 'em!)

Honey, I b'lieve to my soul, got to leave your town
Got to leave your town (Spoken: Touch 'em, touch 'em now!)

Goin' to town, mama, talk with the Chief of Police
Tell 'im my good gal done quit me, sure can't see no peace

All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: January 19, 2016, 11:16:55 AM by Johnm »

Offline frailer24

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #21 on: January 20, 2016, 02:30:38 PM »
I think it is Wiley Barner on the "Bullet" Williams side.
That's all she wrote Mabel!

Offline Lastfirstface

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #22 on: January 20, 2016, 02:45:55 PM »

Offline Lastfirstface

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #23 on: January 22, 2016, 08:30:39 AM »
Sorry if I'm flooding the thread a bit, but I just remembered this one and I don't feel like William McCoy gets a lot of attention:


Offline Johnm

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #24 on: January 22, 2016, 12:50:09 PM »
Hi all,
Here is Kyle Wooten, with "Choking Blues".  Apologies if European Weenies can not view the video.



All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: November 14, 2021, 01:23:05 PM by Johnm »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #25 on: January 22, 2016, 09:04:49 PM »
Hi all,
I know some of you have studied with Mark Graham at Port Townsend or Blues Week.  He really is amazing.



All best,
Johnm

Offline Johnm

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #26 on: February 11, 2016, 06:24:07 AM »
Hi all,
Here's one from Hammie Nixon:





All best,
Johnm

« Last Edit: May 02, 2020, 11:15:44 AM by Johnm »

Offline Lastfirstface

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #27 on: February 11, 2016, 06:48:13 AM »
El Watson solo:



and his duet of "Fox Chase" with Robert Cooksey:


« Last Edit: March 18, 2018, 09:13:47 AM by Johnm »

Offline Mike Billo

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #28 on: February 11, 2016, 07:31:18 AM »

 Not a Blues performance, but  great solo Harp from Doc Watson



Offline Johnm

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Re: Great Solo Harmonica Performances
« Reply #29 on: February 11, 2016, 10:10:51 AM »
Great find, Mike!  One of the things I was sad to see in Doc's performances as the years went by was the progressive de-emphasis on his harmonica playing in his sets.  Early on, he'd always have some ripping tunes with harmonica on the rack, like "Muskrat".  He was certainly a wonderful guitar player, but I loved to hear him play harmonica, banjo and sing unaccompanied hymns and ballads, too.
All best,
Johnm

 


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